Unravelling MAiD in Canada: Rethinking Policy and Practice

Euthanasia and assisted suicide – now known in Canada as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) – has expanded rapidly in the 10 years since its introduction and is now the fifth-leading cause of death in Canada. Originally introduced as an exception to the Criminal code prohibitions on assisted suicide, homicide, and consent to death – intended to relieve suffering in a broad end-of-life context – its uptake has increased considerably and is now permitted under broader circumstances where death is not reasonably foreseeable, suffering deemed subjectively intolerable, and to vulnerable and disabled Canadians. Its rapid proliferation, which continues unabated, is raising urgent questions about where Canada’s policy is headed.

Join the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for the launch of Unravelling MAiD in Canada: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide as Medical Care, a new book that critically examines the evolution of MAiD policy and its troubling implications.

Co-editors Dr. Ramona Coelho, Dr. Trudo Lemmens, and Dr. K. Sonu Gaind bring a powerful interdisciplinary perspective from medicine, law, and ethics. Together, they will explore the normalization of euthanasia and assisted dying in medical practice, the weakening of safeguards, and the growing risks to vulnerable Canadians, including those with disabilities and mental illness. The panel will also offer concrete policy ideas for governments to consider as Canada assesses further expansion in 2027.

This timely event goes beyond a book launch – it’s a crucial contribution to a debate that is central to Canadian values.

Event Program:

• 1:00 pm: Doors open, with a networking coffee session for guests
• 1:30 pm: Panel discussion begins, including Q&A session.
• 3:00 pm: End of event

Please register for the event here.

Speakers

FAQs